Turbine-engine.



No. 880,479; 'PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908. H. A. 'BUUK.

TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.15, 1907.

s sHEzTssxEm 1 avwentoz Witnmeo 7 2%777 [Bake/ii No. 880,479. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

H. A. BUCK.

TURBINE ENGINE. APPLIGATION FILED MAR.16, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1// A W/ I No. 880,479. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

H. A. BUCK. TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAE.15, 1907.

3.SHEETS-SHBBT 3.

IIIII l/lm'zrllllll witnesses UNITED STATES PATET HENRY A. BUCK, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES D. WAINWRIGHT, OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS.

TURBINE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed March 15 1907. Serial No. 362.478-

T 0 all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A.-BUCK, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at the city of Provi ence, in the "county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. v

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of turbine engines and has for its object to provide an engine made up of parts that are stamped, pressed or swaged from sheet or plate material into the desired form. These parts are secured together to form a complete engine that wilLproduce the highest degree of efficiency and develop the maximum power for an engine of its weight and cubic inches of space occupied, the form of construction being most simple practical and inexpensive.

The ordinary steam turbine engine is constructed of castmetal and must of necessity be of great weight in order to withstand the centrifugal force of the rapidly revolving disks and to provide sufficient strength to transmit the power developed. Again, the many thousands of steam ports through both the revolving and stationary disks must be formed by coring or made of independent blades fixed to the disks by suitable means. When the ports are cored the direction of the steam therethrough cannot be accurately controlled and when separate and independent blades are fixed to the disks the expense of construction is greatly increased, the blades often becoming disengaged and much damage may be done before the engine can be stopped. Then again, both the revolving and stationary disks in the ordinary engine must of necessity be of considerable thickness so that when the ports are cored therethrough they .will be of sufficient length to impart the proper direction to the steam and when separate blades are used the disks must be of sufiicient thickness to receive permanent fastenings for the same.

In my improved construction the above difficulties of forming the parts is entirely obviated and a great many practical and essential advantages obtained. On account of the toughness of the material used the plates may be made very thin thereby taking up little s ace and. the ports may be formed in each 0 the blades by raising a deflecting struction of the shell or casing.

' lip from the stock on one side thereof which lip is bent to direct the steam at right angles to the axis of the plate, thereby obtaining the greatest efliciency from the steam used.

Again, the plates being of thin material a larger number may be arranged in a short space, whereby the action of the steam may be reversed a greater number of times within a given number of inches, and consequently obtain a higher degree of efficiency from the steam used and a greater number of horsepower per pound of material. By the use of these thin plates it will also be seen that the clearance through the same is reduced to a minimum. A further advantage in this construction is that by directing the steam at right angles to the axis of the plates a reater number of lineal inches are utilized for the expansion of the same in a circular direction around the disk thereby utilizing this frictional action of. the steam to assist in the rotation of the plates, again obtaining an increased efficiency from the same diameter of engine.

Another object of this invention is to draw the outer edge of the stationary plates up into a dish-form so that a part of one plate will set tightly within the other,'- thereby forming a steam tight body or casing for the engine from the edges of the stationary -35 plates themselves and at the same time accurately space and securelyhold these plates withinthis sectional casing, but I do not confine myself to this manner of con- An engine of my improved construction has many advantages among others being, first the increased strength which is, to say the least, over three times thatof any form or kind of cast metal; second, great saving in Weight; third, great increase in elasticity, the possibility of breakage being reduced to a minimum; fourth, economy in the cost of construction, as an engine of nay-improved construction can be completed at a cost much less than that of unfinished castings for an engine capable of producing an equal horse power, without considering the expenses of finishing the same; fifth, economy in time of manufacture. The various stampings or plates can be produced, finished and assembled in less than the time re uired in the molding and casting of one of t e parts of an ordinary old-style engine. Then again, when the parts are constructed by die 7 one ofthe rotatable plates.

" deflecting lips through the face of said plate.

engine is constructed also the inwardly'turned flange around the work they are all perfectly true and may be 1 accurately duplicated, all the parts being] thus rendered interchangeable. The quality of the material and the manner in which the renders the same prac tically indestructible, the Wearing parts are very few and may be readily replaced at small expense.

Aturbine engine constructed of my improved form, tobe run either by the pressure of liquids or gases, will produce the greatest power for its size or weight of any other machine of its character now on the market. This fact renders theengine particularly advantageous for use in such vehicles as air-ships, automobiles, torpedo boats or thelike, and also on account of its inexpensive construction and durability it is well adapted for all purposes for which a driving engine may be required.

A'practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1-.- shows a'sectional view of a turbine engine, the same being constructed of sheet metal parts, and ports and deflecting lips being illustrated for convenience through the lower part only of both the rotatable and stationary plates. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 3 is a sectional .edge view of said plate il ustrating the central inwardly turned flange collar,

outer edge of the plates and the ports and Fig. ;t is an edge view of this plate sec.-

end thereof.

tioned through the port showingthe deflecting lip as raised from the surface of the plate. Fig. 5- isa sectional view of the spacing plate drawn up into a cupshape, the same being arranged to reinforce the center portion of the rotatable plates and at the same time accurately. space the distance between them. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a portion of the spacer plate illustrated in Fig. 4... Fig. 7- is a plan view of one of the stationaryplates showing its shape and arrangement of ports. Fig. 8- is an edgeview of said stationary plate in section, illustrating the dishlike form in which the outer edge of the plate is drawn for the purpose of fitting one within the other to space the same and also form. a steam tight casing for inclosing the working parts of the engine. Fig. 9 is an edge view of the plate sectioned through the port showing the deflecting lip raised from the t the position best shown in Fig.4.

surface of the plate. Fig. 10 is an edge viewshowing a series of both the fixed and l rotatable plates alternately atranged, sectioned throu h their ports, to illustrate the direction an action of the steam in passing through the same.

Referring to the drawings at 1 and 2 are cylinder heads which may be of anysuitable construction, butare preferably of the form and construction shownanddescribed in another of. my patent applications pending 1n the Patent Office. The inner plate of each of'these heads, as shown in 1, is provided with ports as shown at 41 and 12 which serve the same purpose as any of the other ported stationary plates. The hollow portion of the head, between the inner and outer plates, forms a natural steam chest or chamber for receiving the live steam at one end of the engine and the exhaust steam at'the o posite On these heads may be l ormed or secured the supporting feet 3 and 4 which may be of any desired number or shape to properly support the engine on any suitable:

base. The main shaft 5 is supported-in the bearings6'6 in the heads 1 and 2- at either end of the machine, the steam being pievented from leaking out by means of the packing 7-7 which is retained in position by-the usual packing glands 88.- Mountedon this center shaft 5 are the rotatable plates 9-9 which plates are reterably constructed of sheet or plate meta and in the'form best shown in Fig. 3.

increase its strength and stability. The center portion at 11 is also turned back forming an annular collar or flange to stiffen the center portion and 'provide a longer bearing on.

the shaft. This center collar is provided with a key-way 12 to engage the long key 13 in the shaft. A plurality of port holes 14 are formed through the face of this plate by punching, swaging or forcing the metal through and raising the deflecting lip 15 to A suitable number of bolt holes 16 are also punched through the plates. All of these holes, flanges, ports and lips may be formed by one operation on the thinner plates if desired. A' spacing plate 17, is drawn up into a cup' form .having an outer annular flange 18, the same being employed to separate and position the rotatable plates holding them the proper distance apart and at the same time support them well outward from the center and near the point where the pressure is applied. These spacers'are also provided with a central bore 19 having a key-way 20 to slide The annular flange 10 on the outer edge of this plate is turned back to over the key 13 in the shaft. Bolt holes 21- 21 are also formed through which the binding bolts pass.

The last rotatable plate 22 of the series is formed without the central collar 10* and. is backed up by a stiflenin washer 23. der to securely bind al of these rotatable lates together a suitable number of binding olts 24'24 are passed throu h all of the plates and spacers,

in orthe first p ate 9 being countersunk to receive the'he'ad 25 while the 1 opposite end of the bolts are threaded at 26 p fixed late is forced into the washer 23, thus securely holding all of the rotatable plates in their relative positions and forming a large hollow center drum secured by the key 13 to the shaft. Located between these rotatable plates are the sta tionary'plates 27, which latter plates have their central portions punched out and a narrdw annular flange 28 formed around the opening for stiffening the center of the plate, which flanged portion is just large enough to clear and not come in contact with the outer surface 18 of the spacers. The face of each of these fixed plates, like the rotatable plates, is provided with a corresponding or suitable number of port holes 29 formed by punching or swaging the lip 30 inward from the face of the plate. The outer edge of the plate is drawn up into the form of a dish, the wall being provided with two different diameters 31 and 32, the outer edge being turned off at right angles to form an annular flange 33 pierced at intervals with bolt holes 34. The smaller diameter 31 of the outer wall of each of these dish-shaped plates is arranged to fit closely into the internal diameter 35 of the adjacent plate for a portion of its length, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby forming a stiff outer shell or casing of a double thickness of material. The heads 1 and 2 are fastened to this body at each end thereof by means of the stay bolts 36-36 which passes through the hole 34 in each of the flanges and through flanges of the cylinder heads ateach end of the casing thus firmly securing the whole together forming a complete engine of very few parts all of which are struck from sheet material.

In assembling the parts the head 2 with the shaft 5 located therein is set on end, the tapped washer 23 is then dropped in po sition followed by the rotatable plate 22, then a spacer 17, and a fixed plate .37 with an inwardly turned annular body portion 38 and a flange 43, after the second rotatable plate a said Ody ortion of plate '37, a rotatable plate and a xed plate then follow each other alternately until the machine is built up to the required length. The dishing portion of the fixed plates fit tightly and are forced one within the other forming a rigid and steam tight shell or casing of a double thickness of material. The bolts 2424 are inserted through the bolt holes in the rotatable plates and spacers and are screwed into the thick washer 23 at the opposite end of the series of plates to secure the whole together, the" bolt read being countersunk, as at 25, into the first plate 9 if desired. The cylinder head 1 is then placed in position and the whole is secured together by means of the stay bolt-s 36-36 and the engine is completed. When the steam is turned on it enters through the inlet 39 and passes through the various ports in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 1-0, and

up into position over the.

out through the exhaust site end of the machine.

The en ine may be as readily taken apart as assembTed, by reversing the o eration.

My invention is not restricte to the construction and arrangement of the various parts as shown and described as the shell or casing of the engine may be made in any suitable manner, either sectional or in one piece, and entirelyseparateand inde endent from the stationary plates if desireo An engine constructed in any form of sheet or plate inaterial having ports in its stationary and rotatable lates, each port being provided with a lip wl fich overhangs the same would come within the s one practica embodiment of which has been herein illustrated and. described without attem ting to show all the various forms and ort 40 in the o o- IIIOL ifications in which my invention might be embodied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a series of stationary and rotatable plates alternately arranged within said casing, a shaft, said rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, each of-said plates being provided with a plurality of ports, and a h integral with its plate projecting over 'eac port whereby the driving medium may be deflected substantially 1parallel with the face of the plate.

2. n either end thereof, a series of alternate stationary and rotatable plates within said cas- 0 irit and scope of my invention,

a turbine engine, a casing, a head at ing, a shaft, said rotatable plates mounted on saidshaft, means for retaining the stationary plates, each of said plates being I provided with aplurality of ports, and lips formedintegral with the plates overhangmg said ports whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through the ports.

'3. In a turbine en ine, a casin a head at either end thereof, a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary lates arranged alternately with said rotata leplates, each of said plates being provided with a plurality of ports, and a lip raised from the stockin the plate to overhang each port whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through the ports.

'4. A turbine engine comprising a casing, a series of alternate stationary and rotatable plates within said casing all cut or stamped from sheet or plate material, a shaft, said rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, eachof said plates being provided with a plurality of ports, and a lip over each port formed from the stock punched out to form said port.

A turbine engine comprising a casing a series of alternate stationary. and rotatable plates within said casing all cut or stamped fromsheet orplate material, a shaft, said 35' shaft, said rotatable plates mounted-1,111;- sa

- shaft, each of said plates being provided-with rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, each of said plates being provided with a plurality of ports, the same 5 from the body of the plate informing the port whereby the drivin medium may be deflected in a plane with t e face of the plate as it passes through the ports.

6. In a turbine engine, a casing, a series of stationary and rotatable plates alternately arranged within said casing, said plates being stamped from sheet or plate material, means for retaining the stationary plates, means whereby the rotatable plates may be. per- 5 mitted to rotate, each of said plates being" provided with a plurality of suitable ports,

and means formed in said plates to prevent them from springing ,WhBl'lllIldQIf pressure of" the driving'medium.

7 7. In a turbine engine, a casing, a series of stationary and rotatable plates alternately arranged within said casing said plates being"- stamped from sheet or plate material, means for retaining the stationary plates, means whereby the rotatable plates may be permitted to rotate, each of said plates being provided with a plurality of ports and a lip V raised from the stock in its plate toioverhang l eachport whereby the driving medium may be deflected in a planelwith the'face'ofthe plate as it asses through the'ports.

8. Atur inee ine compris1 a 1% and rotatab efplflitesftl series of stationa ternately arranged within said. casing";

a "plurality of ports}. a-li plate projecting over eac driving medium may be e'flected' substang integral with its 40 tially parallel with the face. of ;tl.eplate,j; d

means for stiffening saidplates. v 9. In a turbineengine, a casing alternately with said rotatable plates, each of said platesbeing provided with a plurality of ports,,and-alip' raised from the stool; in the plate to project over each port whereby the, driving medium deflected as it passes v and a lip projecting over each port being formed from the stock raised plates and spacers rigidlytogether, stationary lates arranged alternately with ort whereby the 1 ahead, at either end thereof, a shaft in said, casing,-- a", series; of rotatable plates mountedjonsaid},

45 shaft, a stiffening flange formed on said-- plates by -turning the outer edges of the same, a series of stationary plates arranged latter plates being provid'efcl-ifi tiii aperture, astiffening flange formed about "said apertui'e'by turninggithe edge of-the plate,

' a head at either may be deflected at right angles'to the axis of the plate as it passes through the ports. p

11. in a turbine engine, a casing, a head at either end thereof a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on'sald shaft, a flange swaged from the stock on the outer edge of said plate to stiffen the; same, members placed between said. plates to space support and stiffen the, same at their center portion, a series'of stationary plates arranged alternately with-"said rotatable plates, said rotary and stationary plates be ing provided with a plurality of ports, and a lip raised fromthe stock inthe plate to project over each port. a v I 12-: In a turbine engine, a casing, a head at either "end thereof, a shaft-in saidcasing, a series of rotatable lates mounted, on said shaft, a flangeswageii from the stock'on-fthe outer edge of said plate to stifljen-the; same,

-members placed between said "plates to space support and'stifien the same at their center portion, means forsecuring all of said a series of said rotata le plates, said rotary and stationary plates eing plurality of ports, an stock in the plateto project over each port. 1

13. In a turbine engine, a casing, a head at.

either end th'ereof,-a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates rnountedifonsaid shaft, a flange swaged from the stock. on the outer edge of said plate to stiffen the same, a

I member plaoedbetween said plates to-ho d the same apart, said s acers rigidly together, a series 0 stationary ates arrange-d alternately with said rota- .table alate'sfsaid rotary and :stationary plates eing provided each with,;a plurality ofports, and? a lip raisedfrom the-stool; in

the plate to pro ect overeach port ahead, fateither end thereof, afshaft in sald casing, als eries of rotatable plates mounted on's airl shaft,-'.a series of stationaryt 14. In a turbine engine, a casing,

I lates arranged alternately with said rotat ,le pllates, said t a central each of said, plates-"being provided with a plurality .of' ports' and a lip raised from theflstook in the-plate to project over each port swher'ebyjithje -.driving medium is defleoted'as it passes through the ports.

' '15." Afiturbinejengi-ne com rising a casing,

end-there a shaftin said casing, a series of'rotatabl plates-mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary plates arranged alternately with said rotatable plates, a stiffening flange swaged on. the outer edge of said plates, each of said plates being pro- (provided each with a a lip raised from the acers arrangedto engage andsupport said ates near the inner ends-of their ports, irne'ans for'securing all of spid lates and vided with a plurality of orts and a lip raised from the stock in the p ate to project over each port whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through said ports.

16. A turbine engine comprising a casing,

a head at either end thereof, a shaft in said casn 9', a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, 2, series of stationary plates arranged alternately-with said rotatable plates, said latter plates being provided with a central aperture, a stiffening flange formed about said aperture by turning the edge of the plate, a stiffening flange swaged on the outer edge of said plates, each set of said plates being provided with a plurality of ports and a lip raised from the stock in the plate to project over each port whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through said ports.

17. In a turbine engine, a casing, a head at either end thereof, a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary plates arranged.

alternately with said rotatable plates, a stiffening flange. formed on the outer edge of said plates, said flange being also arranged to serve as a spacer for said plates, both said rotatable and fixed plates being provided with a plurality of ports and the lip raised from the stock in the plat-e to project over each port whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through said ports.

18. In aturbine engine, a casing, a head at either end thereof, a shaft in said casing, a

series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary lates arranged alternately with'said rotata le plates, said latter plates being provided with a central aperture, a stiffening flange formed about said apertures by turning the edge of the plate, a stiffening flange formed on the outer edge of said plates, said flange also being arranged to serve as a spacer for said plates, both said rotatable and fixed plates being provided with a plurality of ports and a lip raised from the stock in the plate to project over each port whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through said ports.

19. In a turbine engine, a casing formed in sections, a series of stationary and r0tatable plates alternately arranged within said casing, a shaft, said rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, each of said plates being pro:

'struction comprisin casing formed of a p urahty of sections, each tionary plates arranged alternately with said rotatable plates, each of said stationary plates being provided with a plurality of ports, and a lip integral with its plate projecting over each port, said stationary plates being drawn or swaged up into a dish-shape to form, the sections of said casing, each sec tion being adapted to fit and be forced over the bodyof the next adjacent section. b

21. In a turbine engine, a casing formed of a pluralityof sheet metal sections, a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a series ofstationary plates arranged alternately with said rotatable plates, each of said stationary plates being provided with a plurality of ports, and a lip integral with its plate projecting over each port, said stationary plates being drawn or swaged u to form the sections of said casing each eiug adapted to fit one within the other, the outer edge of each section being turned outward to form a stiffening flange, said plates being provided with a central aperture, and a stiffening flange also a formed about said aperture by turning the edge of the plate, each set of said lates being provided with a plurality. of suitable ports.

22. A turbine engine of sheet metal construction comprising the combination of a casing formed of a plurality of sections, a series of alternate stationary and rotatable plates having flanges formed on their peripheries to stiflen the same, each of said plates being provided with a plurality of ports punched through their faces, and a li integral with its plate projecting over eac port, a hollow head at either end of said casing, and means for securing the whole together.

,23. A turbine engine of sheet metal construction comprising the combination of a casing formed of a plurality of sections, each section being adapted tofit closely and be forced one within the other to form a steam tight shell, a series of alternate stationary and rotatable plates havin their peripheries to sti en the same, each of said. platesbeing provided witha plurality of ports punched through their faces,.and a lip integral with its plate projecting over each port, a head at each end of said casing, and means for securing the heads and sections together. i

24. A turbine engine of sheet metal conthe combination of a section being adapted to fit closely and be forced one within the other to form a steamtight shell, a series of alternate stationary and rotatable plates having flanges formed on their peripheries to stiffen the same, each flanges formed on of said plates being provided with a plurality of ports punched through their faces, End a lip integral with its plate projecting over each port, a hollow cylinder head at each end of said casing, each head being constructed of a lurality of sheet metal plates, said plates being bent to engage and support each other at a plurality of points.

25. In a turbine engine the combination of a shell or casing formed of sheet metal, a flan e swaged on each end thereof, a hollow hea at each end of said casing, one or both of said heads being constructed of a plurality of plates (providing a receiving chamber between sai plates, and means for securingthe heads to the casing.

26. In a turbine engine, a casing, a head at either end thereof, a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a stiflening flange formed on said plates by turning the outer edges of the same, a series of stationary plates arranged alternately with said rotatable plates, said latter plates bein provided with a central aperture, a sti enin'g flangp formed about said aperture by turning t e edge of the plate, each of said .plates being provided with a plurality of ports, and a lip raised from the stock in the plate to project over each port whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through the ports.

the outer edge of said 27. A turbine en me, comprising a casing, a head at either enr thereof, a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a stiffening flange swaged on tionary plates arranger alternately with said rotatable plates, a stiffening flan e swaged on the outer edge of said fixed p ates, said flange also serving as a spacer for the plates, both said rotatable and fixed plates being provided with a plurality of suitable ports, and a lip raised from the stock in the plate to project over each port whereby the driving medium is deflected a'sit passes through said ports.

28. A turbine engine com rising a casing, a head at either end thereo a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on sald shaft, a stiffening flange swaged on the outer edge of said plates,'a cup-shaped spacing member placed between said plates to hold the same apart, said spacers arranged to engage and support said plates near the inner end of their ports, a series of stationary lates arranged alternately with said rotata le plates, a stiffening flange plates, a seriesof sta' swaged on the outer edge of said fixed plates said flange also serving as a s acer for the plates, both said rotatable an fixed plates eing provided with a plurality of suitable ports.

29. In a turbine engine, a casing formed of a plurality of sections, a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a cup-shaped spacin member placed between said plates to holr the same apart said s acers arranged to engage and support said p ates near the inner end of their ports, a series of stationary plates arranged alternately with said rotatable plates the outer edges of'said stationary plates being drawn up to'form the sections of said casing each being adapted to fit one within the other, said plates being also provided with a central aperture, a stiffening flange formed about said aperture by turning the edge of the plate, each set of said plates being provided with a plurality of ports and a lip raised from the stock in the plate to project over each port whereby the driving ineduim is deflected as it passes through said ports.

30. In a turbine engine, a casing formed of a plurality of sections, ahead at either end thereof, a shaft in said casing, a series of rotatable plates mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary plates arranged alternately with said rotatable tionary plates being "ormed integral with the sections of said casing, said plates being provided with a plurality of ports, and a lip raised from the stock in the plate to project over each ort whereby the driving medium is deflected as it passes through said ports.

31. In a turbine engine, a casing formed of sheet metal of a plurality of sections, each section being drawn up and ada ted to fit closely and be forced one within t 1e other to form a steam-tight shell, a series of stationlates each of said sta-' ary plates integral with each section of the casing, a series of alternate rotatable plates v between said stationary plates, and ports in said plates adapted to deflect the driving 

